Automatic garage-door opener



Oct. 20-, 1925. 1,557,922

I c. A. CARLSQN AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR OPENER Filed Aug. 7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

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Sheets-S eat 2 i Oct. 20, 1925.

C. A. CARLSON AUTOMATIC GARAGE noon OPENER Filed Aug 1924 7 NW hm Oct. 20, 1925.

C. A. CARLSON AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR OPENER 4 Sheath-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 7, 1924 BJZLBHRLSDN,

C. A. CARLSON AUTOMATIC GARAGE noon OPENER Pila Aug. '7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 20, 1925. i x Q PATENT OFF-ICE.

UNITED STATES CARL ANTON GAR-LSON, F FORT DODGE, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC GARAGE-DOOR OPENER. a

I Improvements in an Automatic Garage- Door Opener, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to automatic door openers, and aims to provide a novel and improved automatic mechanism for opening the doors of a garage or other building when an automobile approaches the doors, so as to relieve the operator from stopping the machine and getting out for opening the doors.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved tread mechanism over which the vehicle runs when approaching the doors and operatively connected with the doors for automatically opening said doors. i

A further ob 'ect of the invention is the provision of such a mechanism including a novel construction and assemblage of the component elements to enhance the utility and efiiciency of the mechanism. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the invention proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism, showing the doors in horizontal section, and portions being removed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. i p r Fig. 3 isa cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section illustrating a modification. v

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing another modification.

Fig. 8 is ahorizontal section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the im- Application filed August '7, 192a. se ia no. 730,612.

provements are used in connection with the hinged doors 11, and the floor of the garage and run-way or drive-way in front of the garage, which may be of concrete.- wood,

brick or other material, is provided with the parallel longitudinal pits 12 extending un der the doors in the paths of the wheels of the vehicle as it moves into and out of the garage. The tread mechanisms are disposed in said pits. as will presentlyappear.

The tread device within each pit or channel 12 comprises an intermediate tread plate 13 and end tread plates '14, and the rim of each pit or channel is preferably protected by the angle irons 15. The tread plates 13 and 14 are depressible, andthe depression of said plates is used for opening the, doors. The plates 13 and 14 are secured on the re-. spective parallel longitudinal'beams 16 and 17, which arepreferably of I cross section,

and which are connected at their lower edges i or flanges by cross bars 18. 'The intermediate plate 13 of each set is shorter than the beams 16, and the plates 14 project beyond the inner endsof the beams 17 to overlap the end portions of the beams 16, so that the plates 14 are supported at their inner ends from the beams 16 of the intermediate plate, withthe plates 14 free to slide and swing relatively to the plate 13.

' The plates 14 are hingedly supported at 1 their opposite or outer ends. Thus, the outer ends of the beams 17 have notches or slots 19 engaging transverse hinge rods 20 secured within the end portions of the pit or channel 12. By moving the beams 17 longitudinally the notches 19 are readily engaged with the rods 20, and the beams 17 can then swing downwardly between the beams 16 and ends of the pit with the plates 14 seating on the beams 16.' The intermediate tread plate 13in each pit is supported for vertical movement. For. this purpose, transverse shafts 21 and 22 extend across .eachpit or channel, and are journaled "in bearings disposed, at the opposite sides of the pit, said bearings being preferably secured to the angle irons 15. Downwardly extending arms 24 have clamps 25. embracing the shafts 21 and 22, and upwardly diverging bars 26, arranged in pairs, are secured near their lower ends to the arms 24, and transverse pivotrods 27 extend through the upper terminals of the pairs of bars 26 and have their terminals engaging within notched Inet nbers 28 secured toth beams 16: The beams 16 ing the tread plate 13 and connected to the connection bar 30, whereby the levers turn simultaneously, thereby constraining the plate 13 to remain level or horizontal.

The tread plate 18 is normally raised by a spring 82 connected to the bar 30 to move 7 said bar in one direction so; as to raise the beams 16 and plate 13. As shown, the coiled spring is used, having one end connected to the bar 30, and its other end connected to a cross :bar 33 secured in the pit 12.

The upward movement of the plate 13 is limited by an adjustable stop screw 3% against which one end of the, bar 30 abuts lil hl i bar is moved by the spring 32 to raisethe plate 13. As shown, the screw. 8e isQadjustable-in a stud 3,5 rising from the bottom of the Pit, and said screw. can be adjnsted to. properly. limit the upward move: ment of the tread plates. If desired, the plates, 13 and 1.4: can be flush with the floor the doors are closedf two tread devices are operatively con: nected with the doors 11. Thus, the shaft 22 is'common to; both tread devices,. and extends transversely across both pits 12. and'through secondary pits or recesses 36 in the floor ad- .22 and. sp ke.

'a'c'ent 'to the hinged edges of the doors. Tubes .01 Pip 37 a pr r lym ed in; the. floor structure between the. pits to re hi'vethe h i 2, nd opp i e nds of a d. sha t are ieur al'ed n. eari 3 d pri ed at the ou er id f th pits s aft. 212 hic is tur ed y. ei her r f he: tread evices, s itera y- 60 t ed w th 129th deer- .1. Thu pw rd y i dine a m .9 hav c amps eoightly n; the 22 Within-the pits-3L6. id. a m are'e hhe dzhy Link .1. w t

the d ors, Th L nk I a e. adju ta l in.

. hhs i h the h rrespemlisgi nh. i h .IQ. .P. t .Y6ly,-.. e e hqhanism. .1; separate t hpen we. the vehihle. mores. t r-Ward; he d it item e fiher's de. hen movin 91. 2329? it/w ee at ries. 1i gar ge. Thus whenfthe Whe l the vehlh emhire time ahead n t illt at eithhren; said Pla es ar 1.? Fe hy p ess he beams Eh .2 h. will Swiss;

the arms 39 so as to shove the links/11 in a direction to swing the doors 11 open. The vehicle can then pass through the doorway, and the doors will be held open as long as one pair of wheels is on the tread plates. the last pair of wheels roll off the tread plates, the springs 32 will restore the parts to normal position, thereby automatically closing the doors. 7

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification for use with horizontally sliding doors 11. Thus, the arms 39 which are secured .on the operating shaft 22 within the pits or -recesses 36 are connected by links 11 with the short'arms 16 of bell crank levers fulcrunied,

as at 47, within the recesses 36*, and having the long upwardly projecting arm's $8,: operatively connected with the doors, the an. rangement being such that when the tread plates are depressed, the shaft 22; isturned to. raise the. arms 39 and swing the bell r nk evers to move th a ms 4 way f om. one an he to. de the o r pen The arms 48 pass slidably thrQllgh studs 49 pivte 'y c e te w t plates. 0 s cured t the doors, so that the armscan slide through the stud 4 and to nable aid studstq turn with the. arms a as the Qorsfare. slid open an losed. a

' F g 7 nd Si ustmte urt er m difica ion. for u W h. a erti ally L-idable door 11. Levers 48 extendacrossthe outer an inner id s f h d o ia d have th h ump r i ns-e 7": iqur a ed or. rotation h g the iambs. or de pests. .l 3 the oo f ame hear the uppe edg f the dee Said levers 4.8? ar l d'azb 'e hrough. tuds 4&9" wi el t9 p. at s 0 s cur d t the 0pposit sid of the doe ivher by he 2.5.0.1 lat'ion of the levers 48 will slide the door e ically op n and os po itions.- The arms 29 oh he pera ing shaft 22? me ed by. li s ifih the eve One link -1 s. conne ed dire tly t t e rresp ml s lever 48% Whi e the he le e a hor rm 46 to hich the ethe 'l l lk is connected, so that both can be at the ame side of th deer- Bash. link .,1' 0 m pri s se ions or bar 4:2? and 3 ha in their adjacent minals overlapped nd slidably qonh e ed- T us, Ql AA P e a ried by the section or loar-i 2 andworl zin a leng udinalo hee tion r. b r

43 ,whereby the ,link' can be lengthened h r en d When the shaft 22 is turned by, the-.de.- pr ss on of t e tre members; the; armsare raised, thereby raisingthgelinks. 4; 1f anol w n in h l v r- %8"-= iP a d r 1 Slide the door open. I'

Havin hu de cribed the in entiem. h is claimed as new is I l.- A; me hanism f. the h r-w scribed comprising intermediateand end tread. m mbers, t e i ner ndh 7 eith r a members resting on the end portions of the intermediate member, hinge rods mounted atthe outer ends of the end members, said outer ends of the end members having slotted portions to detachably engage said hinge rods by the movement of the end mem- 'bers away from the intermediate member,

said end members being located between said hinge rods and intermediate member, means for supporting the intermediate member for vertical movement, and an operative connection for connecting said intermediate member with a door for opening the door when said intermediate member is depressed.

2. A mechanism of the character described comprising intermediate and end tread plates, beams on which said plates are secured, the inner ends of the-end plates resting on the beams of the interinediateplate, hinge portions at the outer ends of the end plates, the beams of the end plates having slotted portions to detachably engagesaid hinge portions, means for supporting the beams of the intermediate plate for vertical movement, and an operative connection for connecting the beams of the intermediate plate With a door for opening the door when said intermediate plate is depressed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my.

signature.

CARL ANTON OARLSON. 

